Organizational Learning of Medical Personnel through the Application of Pareto Analysis in Pharmaceutical Management: An Action Research Study in a Herbal Medicine Manufacturing Organization

บทคัดย่อ

This study examines how the application of Pareto analysis in pharmaceutical management contributes to organizational learning among medical personnel in a herbal medicine manufacturing organization in Thailand. Moving beyond its conventional role as a technical prioritization tool, this study conceptualizes Pareto analysis as a learning-enabling mechanism that facilitates reflection-in-action and collective sense-making. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) design was employed over a three-month period, involving (n = 45) medical and pharmaceutical personnel, including pharmacists, pharmaceutical technicians, production supervisors, inventory officers, and quality assurance staff.

Data were collected through Pareto analysis reports derived from production and inventory records, structured reflective meeting documentation, field observations, and organizational document review. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with iterative coding procedures, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to assess stock-out rates and inventory turnover. Data triangulation was applied to enhance credibility and trustworthiness.

The findings indicate that approximately 20–25% of pharmaceutical items accounted for 75–80% of total production volume and inventory value. The implementation of Pareto-based prioritization significantly reduced stock-out rates and improved inventory turnover efficiency. More importantly, the integration of Pareto analysis into reflective practices fostered shared understanding, enhanced data-driven decision-making, and strengthened organizational learning processes. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that Pareto analysis can function as a boundary object that bridges analytical tools and organizational learning, particularly within regulated pharmaceutical production contexts. The findings offer both theoretical and practical implications for developing learning-oriented pharmaceutical management systems in emerging health care settings.